As you know, we LOVE Disney World! Did you know there are lots of activities to enjoy around the Walt Disney World Resort that are free or nearly free. We are excited to share 10 of our favorites.

Free Activities at Disney World

Disney Springs

You can walk around this huge shopping, dining and entertainment complex at Disney World. There is free entertainment at the Disney Springs that includes getting your picture taken with statutes of Buzz Lightyear and a pirate from the crew of the Flying Duchess, watching the boats, sprites, and ferries travel across the bay, pin trading at the pin pavilion, and the kids can play at the Lego Store area.

To stay cool, the kids can bring their swimsuits and play in the water jet area. Additionally, Westside (the western side of Disney Springs) has several excellent restaurants, including Bongos Cuban Café, House of Blues, and Wolfgang Puck’s. Virgin Records also has a two-story store on the Westside that carries books, music, and videos. All of which can be sampled for FREE while visiting this store.

There are several educational programs throughout the day including special viewings in the evening with night vision goggles and special feeding times throughout the day. At the end of the day, stories will be told around the fire pit just outside the main lobby.

Hidden Mickey Hunt

Take a Hidden Mickey Hunt around any of the Disney resorts. Many of the resort front desks will have a Hidden Mickey guide for that resort, such as the Hidden Mickey Safari at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. These hidden versions of the classic Mickey ears logo (°o°) can be found throughout Disney property. This is a fun activity for kids and adults!

Stables & Petting Zoo

Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort has a fun area near Pioneer Hall that has stables with horses from Magic Kingdom and a petting zoo area. Plus for a nominal fee, kids can take a pony ride.

While you’re here, Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort has some of the most scenic and lengthy walking paths of any resort on Disney property, so get out there and enjoy some fitness in the beautiful Florida weather.

Take a Boat Ride

Enjoy a leisure boat ride from Disney Springs to Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort. You can walk around the beautiful trails and rivers around Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside and then ride the water taxi back to Disney Springs.

Additionally, you can take a ride on one of the ferries that takes resort guests to the Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. These include the ferry from the Wilderness Lodge that goes to Magic Kingdom, then Fort Wilderness, and finally back to Wilderness Lodge. This ferry gives riders great views of both Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon, including seeing long forgotten Disney attractions like River Country and Treasure Island.

Also, this ride will take you over one of the engineering feats on Disney property, the water “bridge.” This canal passes over a road as cars pass “under” the water. Disney’s Boardwalk, Yacht & Beach Clubs, and the Swan and Dolphin have a ferry that travels from these resorts to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and back providing amazing views of the Florida landscape and the Tower of Terror ride. All the resorts will provide you with a short-term parking permit (2-3 hours, depending on the season) to explore the resort.

Electrical Water Pageant

Spend an evening in a hammock on the beach at Disney’s Polynesian Resort, while you watch the Electrical Water Pageant. This fun water parade runs in front of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Resort, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort, and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, nightly.  Just a little trivia, did you know the Electrical Water Pageant is the longest running parade in Disney history.

Happily Ever After Fireworks

You can watch the Happily Ever After Fireworks at Magic Kingdom from the Deck at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. This is an amazing view of the fireworks above Cinderella Castle.  You can also extend your time at Disney’s Fort Wilderness and grab a chair on the beach to watch the Electrical Water Pageant and Happily Ever After Fireworks.

Ride the Monorail

You can take a ride on the monorail loop to see some of the Walt Disney World Resort. This is always a fun ride for the whole family.  We had a friend that always took her younger kids to Disney World to only ride the monorails. Her kids loved it and thought Disney World was the monorail ride.

The main loop goes from the Magic Kingdom front entrance to the Ticketing and Transportation Center to EPCOT and back. There is also an “inner” loop that will take you from the front entrance of Magic Kingdom to Disney’s Grand Floridian, Disney’s Polynesian Resort, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, and then returning to the front entrance of Magic Kingdom.

Campfire & Movies on the Beach

Enjoy a fun evening of roasting marshmallows over the campfire on the beach at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resort.  Then after marshmallows, you can watch a Disney Classic movie outside under the stars.  It is a relaxing way to end the day!

Disney’s Boardwalk

Enjoy evening activities on Disney’s Boardwalk including games and live entertainment. You can even see some of the IllumiNations Show at Epcot along the Disney’s Boardwalk.

As a Disney fan, you may have wondered “what is it like being a Disney Cast Member?”  Check out our blog post about funny guest stories as a past Disney Cast Member.

To stay up-to-date with the latest Disney World deals and to book your next family Disney World vacation with the top travel experts, be sure to get in touch with our team at Destinations In Florida.